This is essentially a question for those who live in areas with decent/significant snowfall each year that own a vehicle with part-time AWD systems. Simply put, how happy are you with your vehicles snow performance both in powder-like snow as well as wet/slushy mix?
I assume you meant automatic AWD? If so, I have been pretty happy with it. I don't expect it to do the things my vehicle with part time 4WD can when its engaged, but overall, it does what I hoped it would do. To me, its basically a step up from front 2WD.
Yep, as oppossed to the full time systems like the synchronous/symmetrical awd on Subarus. What car do you have Vito and what's the deepest snow you've had it in?
K's Mitsubishi endeavor has AWD. It's actually very impressive. That vehicle will go through as much as it's limited clearance will allow. Other than clearance and weight (if the bed of my truck has weight in it) my 4x4 silverado has nothing on that little mitsubishi. (actually the endeavor is much more nimble)
If I'm not mistaken (could be as I'm not real up on the Mitsubishi vehicles), the Endeavor is a full time AWD system like a Subaru, so I would expect as much:D My concern is with the part-time (or automatic) systems where the vehicle is FWD until slippage is detected, and a coupler directs power to the rear (temporarily until slippage stops).
You're probably right. I didn't pay much attention to it. I know it has 'stability control' and 'traction control' as well. I haven't been able to roll it yet, so that stability thing seems to work... vs.... I have had my 2500HD on only two wheels... eek! I'll ask K if it's full time AWD or part time.. He worked at the mitsubishi plant here in IL when it was built. (and he still bought it!)
Not automatic or part-time AWD...full time, yes. Automatic AWD acts very much like a limited slip differential. IMHO, nothing beats constant power to all four wheels regardless of traction when the going gets tough. However, it's very hard to find a very comfortable, and "affordable" luxury suv/crossover that is true 4wd/full time AWD (the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit is one of the few). I'm just not ready to commit to an automatic AWD system when we live where we do when my wife is driving it 90% of the time unless I hear enough from owners to persuade me otherwise.
My mom has a full time AWD car and from my experience it hands down beats both our truck and jeep in snowy conditions.
I owned a 2004 Ford Explorer that had AWD. I hated It and will never own a vehicle again that has this. I wouldn't of minded this vehicle If I could take It out of AWD. To much clunking around for my liking when a tire would spin and the front axle would engage.
Haven't seen snow in my Ford yet, but my Nissan didn't have a LSD and I have gone through some ridiculous snow with it both before and after I put good tires on it. Obviously the BFG AT TA's did better, but even with the stock tires I've gone through an honest 16" of unplowed powder on blacktop. Unless you get off the paved road it's fine. Once I put good tires on it, I really never had to put it in 4wd, but did just because I wanted to for peace of mind. Actually I take that back, one time our driveway got plowed in pretty good (we are on the outside corner of two dead end roads), and with 5' or so of powder piled up I decided to break it up with the truck before trying to snow blow.......I needed the 4WD for that.
If it were me, I'd be solely looking for an AWD in you situation. You're gonna chew tires. (40,000 miles) And sacrifice some mph, but the peace of mind is worth it. She's not doing any heavy (lengthy) commuting right?
been driving in snow since 1988 and the most important thing is the tires(favorite to date unnavailable anymore-dayton timberline)...and there is no way your awd and crossovers are going to get me into my camp a month from now...no plowing and snow is just too deep...full size pickup and 30+ in. tires at least and don't forget the shovel.
Tires are definitely a major factor, and I've considered putting a set of blizzaks on whatever we get for winter driving, but I'm still leery of some of these automatic systems. Most forums that you research give pretty biased opinions, so I figured some of you might have some insight. My sister has a new Sorrento, and she seems to like it even in the winter, but put it through any accumulating snow, and it doesn't do well. I personally don't like that. Ben, she has a ~5mile commute, but it will be our travel vehicle. The mpg and tire wear aren't a major concern when compared to safety and handling in bad weather.
my s15 jimmy has auto 4 and I don't use it...if its bad out we just put it in fulltime...because once you start to lose it the 4wheel kicking in it is to late to save it, not to mention trying to put gears together at 55 mph...unnecessary wear and tear and looking for a failure.
WE had an 06 infinity g35x. It had AWD that would kick in when the tire felt slipping. I think this is what you were asking about? It was ok, we sold the car after two years mainly because the size. It was my wifes vehicle and we needed something a little bigger as it would be used for all of our family travel as well and with 2 small kids we neded more storage room. We get a fair amount of snow up here in maine and it did OK. If we were getting a heavy snow I would drive that and my wife would drive my truck, she felt safer that way. I went off of the road once in it, got sucked into a slushy groove and it just pulled me into a snow bank. Other than that it handled the snow fine, don't know if we would go that route again, but my wife now wants a BMW and i believe there all wheel drive vehicles are very similair to the infinty.
Lol!! A Ford guy yes, an Explorer (Exploder) guy no! NEVER again will I own an AWD Explorer unless of course they came out with something better. I've heard other bad reports of Explorers with AWD.
Thanks, guys. The wife is a bit hesitant to consider the AWD now (hopefully I didn't scare her away from a vehicle she liked :D). Looking at the 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee now...we'll see.
